Lubricating device



Dec. 31, 1940.

F. C. WOELFER, JR

LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Oct. '7, 19157 Y 'M Ca/ INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYJ Patented Dec. 31, 1940 PATENT 'OF F ICE LUBRICATING DEVICEsFrank C.Woelfer, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 'assigner yto yThe:Cincinnati'Ball Crank Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, afcorporation of Ohio.Application October 7, 1937, Serial No. 167,782

vThis invention relates to the art of 'lubrication and is particularlydirected to apparatus for delivering lubricant under ,pressure to a`point of use. More specifically, the invention lies in an improved,hand operatedlubricating gunadapted to contain a quantity of lubricantand incorporating means for `delivering the lubricant, through themedium ora hand operated pump, to fittings of the type employed inamotor vehicle.

The lubricant distributing lfittings of a motor vehicle are located atvarious points on the chassis and motor, and must of necessity, in agood many instances, be dilicult to reach. The connection of the gun tothe 'fitting must be sealed. At the same time the structure of thelubricator must ,be such as to permit the application of the properamount of `grease pumping pressure through a hand lever while theoperator is holding or pressing the gun upon the fitting. 'Moreover,since, as stated, there ,is often verylittle clearance aroundthefitting, the delivery end-,of the lubricator must be of an extendedslender structure, so as to reach into close quarters.

Accordingly, an objective of the Vpresent inventor has been to provide ahand operated lubricator or gun, in which thepumpingunit and itslhandlever are so located as` to make it extremelyconvenient to reachfittings which are 'in inaccessible locations, in this respect enablingthe operator to insert the gun Vinto limited yspaces withoutinterference because of the lever. Furthermore, it has been the Objectof .the inventor to facilitate the operation by enabling the operator.to hold the gun upon the litting in a more positive manner than hasbeen possible heretofore. Toward the accomplishment of these purposes,the yparts of the gun are now arranged so as to leave substantially theentire length of the gun from the delivery endrrearwardly free oflateral obstruction, and so as to utilize the pressure of ,the pumpingstroke as an additional means for holding the gun on the tting.

It has been determined that follower plates, in the reservoirs of theseguns, although necessary in some instances, are not entirelysatisfactory in operation. Follower plates have vbeen used to force thegrease or lubricant inthe "barrel or reservoir of the gun to the regionof the `pumping piston in order .to insure Aa constant supply at thepump intake. In the more fluidor softer type of lubricant the wipingaction of the iollower plate on the cylinder or barrel wall causes entryof the lubricant into the ypressure side of the cylinder, which is, ofcourse, quite undesirable,

or slightly inclined.

Accordingly, it has beenthe further object of the present `inventor ,toprovide a lubricator of `this type, in which `thefollower plate isunnecessary, particularly when the lighter lubricants are beingdelivered. inventor `has noted that the average gun is used yin asomewhat vertical position, since the operator stands in a pit orbeneath a car on a lift.

In achieving this objective the f' That is to say, the delivery Iend ofthe gun isA projected upwardly.

Therefore, a physical embodiment of the invention'has taken the form `ofa lubricator in which the `pumping unit is located at the rear end oflthe lubricator with the intake located at the Ybottom of the barrelwhen the gun is `in normal position of use.

Further .specific objectives with respect to the specific position ofthe pumping unit have been to mount the'purnp unit ,entirely upon therear cylinder head for quick repairs and to delivei` the lubricant.through a central tube, thereby relieving the barrel :or main reservoirof delivery pressures. Further, it has been an `object to provide a gunof the present arrangement which may include a follower plate when theheavierf'l greases are .being dispensed.

Various other objects and features of the invention will `be more fullyset forth in a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the gun, generallyillustratingthe internal construction thereof.

vFigure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken similar toIFigure 1, but illustrating the gun'in position with the piston drawnback.

Figure 3 is aperspective view illustrating the gun in use.

`Figure `4 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of guny partsbeing broken away for illustrating an air actuated follower plate orpiston therein.

Figure 5 is a view taken similar to Figure 4, illustrating a furthermodification, parts of this view being broken away for illustrating aspring lpermitting the lubricant, if of the lighter grade,ito

flow to the rear end. The pumping unit is located at the rear end andaccordingly will receive, by gravity, all of the lubricant in the gun.

For those types of greases or fluid lubricants which are heavy enough toresist gravity flow the gun may incorporate a follower plate, eitherspring or air impelled. The follower plate acts to drive the grease tothe rear of the gun and, when incorporated, will permit the gun to beused in any position.

Referring to the drawing, the body or main section of the gun is acylinder or barrel IU. This cylinder has its respective ends closed bymeans of cylinder heads I-I and I2, front and rear respectively. Betweenthese front and rear cylinder heads and within the cylinder, axiallythereof, is a delivery tube for the pumping piston of the pump assemblyI3. The forward end of the delivery tube I4 is screw-threaded into anipple I5, which is in screw-threaded connection with the forward end ornose of the head I I.

More specifically described, the head II is of tapered form to provide arestricted forward end in which the nipple I5 may be secured. The largeend of the head attached to the cylinder is screwed upon the cylinderand incorporates a packing ring 0r gasket I6, lying in a counter-boredportion thereof. The forward end of the cylinder is turned inwardly toprovide a lip I6a, abutting the packing I6.

A coupling element I1 is screwed onto the nipple angularly thereof uponan angularly disposed screw-threaded sleeve portion of the nipple. Theangularly disposed bore I8 of the nipple extending from the bore I9receiving the delivery tube, is enlarged to provide a chamber |90.containing a check valve 20, held against the shoulder formed by thecounter-bore I9a by means of a coil spring 2|, under compression betweenthe ball and the coupling. The passage 22 in the coupling is of the samesize as the passageway I8 extending from the delivery tube to the valvechamber, so that the seating of the spring takes place marginally ofthis passageway. Y

The pumping unit I3 of the lubricator is mounted in the rear cylinderhead I2. The cylinder head proper, previously indicated at I2, carriesan inwardly projected pump cylinder element 24, axially disposed withrespect to the cylinder and supporting the rear end of the delivery tubeI4. The delivery tube is connected to the cylinder through a couplingsleeve 25. More specically, the tube is screwed into the coupler and thecoupler is screwed into the end of the cylinder 24. A spring seatingwasher 26 is disposed in the coupler between the end of the deliverytube and the shoulder which is formed by the passageway 21 of thecoupler element and the bore into which the tube is screwed.

A ball valve 28 is seated upon a shoulder, formed by further reductionin the bore of the coupler at the rear thereof, or at the end t0- wardthe pumping piston. The ball valve 28 is held upon the seat by means ofa coil spring 29, under compression between the washer 26 and the valve.The piston 30 projects beyond the rear end of the cylinder head I2, tothe eX- terior of the gun. A packing gland 3i, of conventional form,seals the piston where it passes through the cylinder head. The intakeports 32 for the cylinder are located toward the rear end of thecylinder, immediately adjacent the cylinder head. A plurality isprovided, four the piston by means of a cross pin 39.

being shown in this instance, disposed 90 apart. A packing ring 33 sealsthe rear cylinder head upon the cylinder.

The operating means for the piston is a lever 34 flexibly pivoted uponthe cylinder head, through a double pivotal connection. A pivot stud 35is screwed into the cylinder head and provides a head carrying a crosspin 36. A pair of links 31 are secured upon the cross pin (one elementof the pair at each side'thereof) and connect to a cross pin 38,disposed in the pivot end of the lever. Intermediate the ends of thelever, but relatively close to the pivot point, the lever is connectedto the projected end of The end of the piston is bifurcated forreceiving the lever therein. The lever includes a cross web 40 and amarginal flange 4I, being of I-shape, in cross section. The flange isdiscontinued adjacent the pivoted connections to permit the lever to twithin the bifurcated end of the piston and between the pivot links 31.A filling plug 42 is provided in the head whereby the lubricator may befilled through the rear end.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, a follower plate may be provided, ifdesired. The follower plate is indicated at 43. As shown in Figure 4,the follower plate is urged rearwardly by means of air introduced intothe forward end of the lubricator under pressure through a tting 44containing the usual valve (not shown). A relief valve 45 is alsoprovided.

A large coil spring may be used for impelling the piston 43 as shown inFigure 5, this coil spring being disposed under compression between thefollower plate and the reduced forward end of the lubricator, specicallythe tapered forward cylinder head. For this reason the coil spring istapered at its forward end.

The structure of the follower plate 43 is conventional. It includesreversely disposed coupling shaped gaskets 46-46, held in assembly bymeans of a nut 41 screwed upon a hub element 48 and clamping the gasketsagainst the shoulder 49 of the hub between the spreader rings 50-50. Aspacer washer 5I is provided between the gaskets. The follower plate issuitably guided upon the delivery tube including a sleeve assembly 52for greater length and incorporating gaskets 53 encircling the deliverytube and sealing the piston therein.

Inasmuch as practically all motor vehicles are lubricated under a carlift or above a pit, with the operator standing, the natural position ofthe gun or lubricator, when in use, will be with the pumping unitdisposed downwardly. Accordingly the lubricant will settle toward thelower or pumping end, under the iniiuence of gravity, and will flow intothe pumping cylinder through the intake ports` 32, which liesubstantially at the base of the lubricator when in this position.

This arrangement enables the operator to develop much greater pressurewith less effort, since the unit is located at the back end of the gunand since he is pressing the lever toward the point of delivery. Thisarrangement permits shorter connections on the delivery end of the gun,the usual extension being unnecessary since the gun itself constitutesthe extension from the hands of the operator. (See Figure 3.)

'Ihe follower plate is unnecessary with the fluid type lubricants. Thisis a distinct advantage, since the soft and fluid type lubricants tendto pass a follower plate, getting on the pressure side thereof, which isof course very undesirable. In the case of heavier greases a followerplate may be used, the gun still possessing the distinct advantagesabove noted because of the location of the pumping unit at the rearthereof, and because of the disposition of the handle.

Furthermore, since the central tube carries the pressure the barrel maybe of lighter structure. The gun, due to the location of the intakeports can be emptied almost completely whereas with follower plates thiscannot vbe done. The entire pumping unit assembly is carried by the rearcylinder head, which is quite advantageous in case of breakage or thenecessity of cleaning the unit, for it may be quickly disconnected bythe simple operation of unscrewing the cylinder head.

The grease in the tube cannot i'low through the outlet due to the factthat the tube is manually sealed at the delivery end by the valve 20.This valve unseats when additional grease is forced into the tube by thepump, but holds back the contents of the tube when the gun is not inuse.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A grease gun, comprising, a reservoir barrel having a rigid dischargefitting at its forward end, a rear cylinder head for said barrel, a pumpunit carried by said cylinder head, including a discharge tube extendingto the discharge outlet of the barrel, and a lever for said pumpingunit, said lever pivoted on the cylinder head and extending laterallythereof, whereby movement of the lever is lengthwise of the barrel.

2. A grease gun, comprising, a reservoir barrel having a rigid dischargetting, at its forward end, a rear cylinder head for said barrel, a pumpunit carried by said cylinder head, a vdischarge tube extending axiallyof the reservoir barrel to the discharge outlet of the barrel, and alever for said pumping unit, said lever pivoted on the cylinder head andextending laterally thereof.

3. A grease gun, comprising, a cylindrical reservoir having a taperedforward outlet end including a rigid discharge means, a delivery tubeextending axially within the cylinder to the delivery end thereof, apump cylinder mounted at the rear of the reservoir, said pump cylinderin communication with the delivery tube and ncluding intake openingsimmediately adjacent the rear end of the reservoir, a pumping piston insaid pump cylinder projecting from the rear end thereof and a leverconnected to and actuating said piston, said lever pivoted at the rearend of the reservoir.

4. A grease gun adapted for lubricating inverted fittings comprising, anextended barrel including a tapered delivery head and an angularlydisposed `delivery nipple, a closure element for said barrel, anoperating lever and pressure developing means mounted on said closureelement atthe rear end of said extended barrel, and a delivery tubeextended interiorly of the barrel between said pressure developing meansand the delivery nipple, whereby, in operating position the barrel ofthe gun provides an extension to the fitting being lubricated.

5. A grease gun comprising, an elongated grease reservoir having adelivery head and a rear closure element, an angular grease fittingmounted on said delivery head, a grease delivery tube in communicationwith said grease fitting and extending interiorly of the reservoir tosaid rear closure element, said tube including grease inlet openings, apressure piston within said tube adjacent said inlet openings, and apiston actuating lever pivoted on said closure element in operatingconnection with said piston, said inlet openings adapted to communicatewith the interior of the reservoir when the piston is in retractedposition, whereby, when the grease gun is in operating position thegrease will be delivered by gravity to said opening.

FRANK C. WOELFER, JR.

